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Frank’s on track for London 2012
Monday September 01st 2008. Posted: 11:59
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Frank (far right) talks to triple-jumper Greg Rutherford in Beijing.
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As a Hendon schoolboy, Frank Attoh’s sports teacher asked him to have a go at the triple jump.
“I had no idea what I was doing,” said Frank, 52, who works for BT Design delivering international bandwidth. “But I broke the school record within two jumps of trying it.” Little did Frank know that he was a hop, skip and a jump away from making a name for himself as an international athlete - and one of the world’s finest triple-jump coaches. Frank has devoted his spare time to coaching athletes. When he finishes work, he heads straight off to the track where he coaches British and foreign athletes who compete at the highest level - at Brunel University and also at Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. Among athletes who have benefited from Frank’s coaching skills are Trecia Smith, Ashia Hansen, Mary Berkeley, Connie Henry, Yamile Aldama, Nadia Williams, Larry Achike Francis Agyepong and Greg Rutherford. “I normally take Wednesday afternoon as annual leave and do training then,” said Frank. “Then I train again at the weekend. I train every day after work, except on Fridays when I take the day off. My life revolves around it.” But, he said, it’s not as bad as it sounds, as it fits in with family life. His wife Jackie - who also works for BT - often accompanies him on overseas trips. And his daughter Jade is a rising star on the track, following in dad’s triple-jump footsteps. She’s already an English schools’ champion. His own success on the track saw him win the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) championship - and he was usually in the top three at most meets. “My first senior international was in Kiev in Russia in 1976, alongside athletes including Steve Ovett and Geoff Capes,” he said. But - not having his own coach to guide him along the way - Frank picked up some bad habits which led to an injury. It was the end of his track career - but the beginning of his coaching career which has resulted in international fame. “Having realised there was a lack of adequate coaching for my favoured sport, I decided I would like to do something to help other developing athletes and I started coaching and training a small group of other would-be triple jumpers,” explained Frank. “I have been told by other track and field coaches that I’m the most successful triple-jump coach that Britain has ever had. That may or may not be true - I never really think about it,” he said. But his fame spread - and not just in the world of athletics. “One of the more amusing requests I have had was to provide sprint training for a number of Metropolitan Police officers - presumably too many crooks were getting away and they had to improve their results,” he joked. This year - at Frank’s fifth Olympic Games - he joined Team GB as a triple-jump coach in Beijing. It was the first time Frank has been with Team GB in an Olympic village. It was, he said, an amazing experience, thanks in part to the team’s sponsors. “It doesn’t sound like much but we even had fridge/freezers in our rooms,” said Frank. “It was the first time you actually felt you were at home. Even the pillowcases had Team GB written on them.” And the team spirit made Beijing 2008 special, he added. “The team really bonded together and everyone really helped one another,” he said. “I’ve never seen an atmosphere like that before.” Lottery funding played a huge role in helping Team GB with its fantastic medal haul, he said - and will go a long way to ensuring London 2012 is equally successful. Frank predicts third or fourth place in the medals table for Team GB at London 2012 - with even more medals than Beijing. And he hopes to be there to watch his athletes do their bit to swell the medal haul. None of it would be possible without the support over the years of BT, he added. “BT has been very supportive,” said Frank. “And there’s so much I take from BT into my coaching. “I’m interacting with overseas carriers in my job - and, in my coaching, I’m often coaching someone 7,000 miles away. So much of my BT job goes hand in hand with my coaching. “I can’t imagine not doing this job - or not being able to do my coaching. They are so much alike, both working with people, and that’s what I enjoy doing most. I like to make a difference.” Although Beijing 2008 was an incredible experience, it’s in “silver medal” position compared with what lies ahead - London 2012. “I can’t wait,” said Frank. “Beijing has generated a lot of interest from the kids and I’ve already had a lot of phone calls from people who want to train and make 2012. “Apart from the athletics, I think London 2012 is going to be good for the nation’s health.”
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